NEW ORLEANS—The team Jimmer Fredette carried through the past month dropped him in the Sweet 16.

Fredette, the Sporting News college basketball player of the year, encountered extraordinary defensive attention, a busted chin and cramps that left him half-limping, but what knocked him out of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, 83-74 in overtime, was a balanced Florida attack and a group of teammates who couldn’t provide support on a challenging Thursday night at the New Orleans Arena.

Guard Jackson Emery hit three times from 3-point range in the first half, then was shut down the rest of the night. Charles Abouo, a hero in the team’s big win at San Diego State last month, shot 2-of-9 from the field here.

Center Noah Hartsock was 3-of-9 from the field, and his biggest error was failing to pursue a rebound with 20 seconds left after UF guard Kenny Boynton missed a 3-pointer from the left corner. That gave the Gators a chance to set up a final shot, but Chandler Parsons’ drive was covered by three defenders and fell weakly off the rim.

UF power forward Alex Tyus tied for the Gators scoring lead with 19 points. Though guard Kenny Boynton struggled with accuracy on a night when he expended extraordinary energy defending Fredette, he hit four big 3-pointers and also scored 17.

Fredette took forever to get into the scorebook—until 6:17 remained in the first half —but eventually he energized the Cougars with 32 points (11-of-29 from field, 3-of-15 on 3-pointers) in what was left of the game. The rest of his teammates scored only 40 and shot 32 percent from the field.

Fredette tied the score three times in the final six minutes of regulation, first with an audacious 30-foot 3-pointer in transition and then with two free throws and a layup.

BYU had a chance to assume the lead with 2:30 left, but Abouo tried to take on three Florida defenders in transition and couldn’t convert a layup. They had another at 1:40 but Fredette missed a deep 3-pointer.

When Tyus went to the line seconds later, he had a chance to put the Gators in front and made one attempt, and it was 68-67.

Fredette tried again from deep at that juncture, off the dribble from 25, but that one rolled off the rim and the Gators had an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and BYU.

Guard Erving Walker missed a Jimmer-style 3-pointer, though, and BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth answered after the rebound by making one of his two free throws to tie it at 68-all.

In overtime, BYU appeared to be at a disadvantage because of its short rotation. The Cougars got only 39 minutes from their reserves in regulation, compared to 53 from the Gators bench. Florida dominated the extra period following Tyus’ follow basket to open, then a pull-up jumper by Boynton in the lane.